Assembly pushes for U. LGBTQ resource center
Christopher Echeverria
Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: University
Members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning community are to receive considerable support from the University's student government.
The Rutgers University Students Assembly voted Thursday to pass a resolution urging the University to create a LGBTQ resource center.
"I think it's a great idea," said Jim Kline, the chair of RUSA and a Rutgers College senior. "It's something that the University should look to establish in the future. We hope that this will send a message to student affairs that this is something that is needed and steps need to be made in planning such a resource."
This resolution, passed with a moderate amount of debate, urges the University to choose a suitable location for such a center.
Supporters of the bill argued that while University LGBTQ organizations exist, the University lacks a specific center to support the community's specific needs.
"When you come to campus and you're … in the process of coming out of the closet, these resources are very important," Kline said. "Right now, these resources are scattered or not available. The bill was made to make it into one center that is accessible to students and make it easier."
Although the assembly unanimously agreed with the idea of the center, many concerns arose regarding location, funding and whether it is a priority issue.
"I wasn't convinced that the services that the LGBTQ resource center was trying to provide didn't already exist between Counseling and Psychological Services and just the community in general," said Josh Slavin, a RUSA representative and a Livingston College sophomore.
He said fraternities and sororities, along with the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Association at Rutgers University, already provide the services a center would incorporate.
"That community's needs are fairly well met," he said. "And it's also a matter of funding to ask for a resource center that should be staffed by the University."
The Rutgers University Students Assembly voted Thursday to pass a resolution urging the University to create a LGBTQ resource center.
"I think it's a great idea," said Jim Kline, the chair of RUSA and a Rutgers College senior. "It's something that the University should look to establish in the future. We hope that this will send a message to student affairs that this is something that is needed and steps need to be made in planning such a resource."
This resolution, passed with a moderate amount of debate, urges the University to choose a suitable location for such a center.
Supporters of the bill argued that while University LGBTQ organizations exist, the University lacks a specific center to support the community's specific needs.
"When you come to campus and you're … in the process of coming out of the closet, these resources are very important," Kline said. "Right now, these resources are scattered or not available. The bill was made to make it into one center that is accessible to students and make it easier."
Although the assembly unanimously agreed with the idea of the center, many concerns arose regarding location, funding and whether it is a priority issue.
"I wasn't convinced that the services that the LGBTQ resource center was trying to provide didn't already exist between Counseling and Psychological Services and just the community in general," said Josh Slavin, a RUSA representative and a Livingston College sophomore.
He said fraternities and sororities, along with the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Association at Rutgers University, already provide the services a center would incorporate.
"That community's needs are fairly well met," he said. "And it's also a matter of funding to ask for a resource center that should be staffed by the University."